Underreamer



June 4, 1940. E. H. ZUM-BERGE I UNDERREAMER 1 am a m w W. 5 w w a 2 H 8 3 m r l W v. 1 m a M L m 3/ o 2 o I l 6 95 A3 BE 2 u f 2 ATTORNEY.

June 4, 1940. E. H. ZUM-BERGE UNDERREAMER Filed Nov. 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllll IIL ATTORNEY.

Patented June 4, 1940 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNDERREAMER Emil H. Zum-Berge, Dallas, Tex, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Estate of Emil I-I. Zum- Berge and George Klein, both of Dallas, Tex.

Application November 1, 1938, Serial No. 238,251 5 Claims. (01. 255-76) This invention relates to underreamers and it of the underreamer may be locked together or has especial reference to expanding and cleaning suitably unlocked at the will of an operator. earth reamers, the action of which may be man- Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective ually or otherwise suitably controlled. of the lower end of the means for locking and The principal object of the invention is to unlocking the units of the structure illustrated provide an underreamer for enlarging the rein Figure '7.

gion adjacent the bottom of a bore hole, in order Figure 9 is a view taken on the line 9-9 on to provide an area such that pillars or piers may Figure 6. be provided with a suitable foundation. Figure 10 is a plan view of the supporting Another object of the invention is to provide means for the earth container illustrated in Figan apparatus whereby earth material underure 2, and showing the supporting arms for the reamed may be conveyed to the surface of the earth elevators, and

earth with a minimum of effort upon the part Figure 11 is a view showing the gearing posiof an operator. tioned adjacent the lower portion of the under- Still another object of the invention is to proreamer, and illustrating the plurality of earth vide means by which underreamed strata may elevating screw conveyers.

be conveyed to a zone, which zone may be later Referring primarily to Figures 1 and 3, the opened and the contents thereof subsequently reference numeral l designates a ring fixedly deposited upon the surface of the earth. mounted upon supporting members 2 which lat- Yet another object is to provide gear means ter members are fixedly positioned to the earth and screw conveyers adjacent the lower portion by means of pins 3. The ring I is provided with of the underreamer through the medium of hingedly connected arms 4. Segmentary and anwhich earth cuttings may be transferred into nular sections 5 are affixed to the arms 4, as ila zone, which latter may be subsequently elelustrated in Figure 3. The purpose of the above vated to the surface of the earth. assembly is to hold the apparatus to be here- Yet another object is to provide means by inafter described in concentric relationship to which the underreamer is at all times mainthe bore hole at all times. tained in concentric relationship relative to the Torque to the underreamer is transmitted bore hole. through the medium of a pipe 6, which torque With the foregoing objects asparamount, the may be applied manually by means of the cross 3 invention has particular reference to its salient bars I, or through any suitable power means.

features of construction and arrangement of The cylindrical unit illustrated in Figure 2 parts which will become manifest as the descripserves as a means for receiving and retaining tion proceeds, taken in connection with the acearth cuttings during operation of the apparatus.

companying drawings, wherein: This unit is comprised primarily of a longi- Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of the tudinally split housing 8, whose sections are inunderreamer shown in fully expanded position terconnected by hinges 9, and which sections and with portions broken away. may be manually locked by means of a pin l0.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective The housing 8 is maintained in concentric relaof the container into which earth cuttings are tionship with the pipe 6 by means of arms ll conveyed. which are arranged and formed as shown in Figure 3 is a perspective view of the surface Figure 2. The pipe 6 is enlarged as shown in means for centering the underreamer. Figure 1 whereby the arms II will surround the Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of one of the smaller portion of the pipe 6 and will seat upon underreaming units, shown fragmentarily in the shoulder formed by the enlargement whereperspective. Y by the bucket 8 is suspended to receive the .dirt

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the lower conveyed upwardly through the sleeves 30. part of the underreamer shown in an inoperative It will be understood that after a bore hole to p s be underreamed has been drilled to adesired Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 and showdepth, the underreamer is lowered therein and ing the means in cross section by which release centrally positioned by the pins 3. Prongs I2 is efiected. serve to engage the earth and prevent rotation Figure '7 is an enlarged View in vertical secof a housing l3, which housing serves to encase tion shown fragmentarily and with portions a gearing arrangement to be hereinafter. debroken away, of the apparatus by which units scribed.

The cutter blade arrangement is best illustrated in Figure 4. These cutters are each provided with walls M which curve inwardly toward the common rotating axis. Earth cutting elements I 5, preferably serrated and replaceably arranged, are afiixed to the bodies of the underreaming elements. Each of the underreaming units is pivotally attached to a central and tubular member is by means of arms 17, which latter arms are hingedly connected to the tubular member l6 through the medium of ears l8 and pin it. It is to be noted that the tubular member I6 is rigidly connected to the lower end of the pipe 6 whereby rotation of said pipe through the member 'i will cause the ears l8 integral with the member I6, to be rotated. The member It forms a jacket around the pipe 6 which pipe extends downwardly in such a manner as to be rotatably connected to the axle of the gear 23 whereby said gear will be rotated when the pipe 6 is revolved.

When the underreamer is lowered into a bore hole and prongs [2 are fixedly positioned in the earth at the bottom of the bore hole, it will be seen that torque applied to the arms 1 will be effective to rotate a collar 20, which collar is provided with ears 2!. Arms 22 serve to interconnect the ears 2| with arms 57 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, thereby serving to arcuately move the underreaming elements to the position shown in Figure 1 as the arms 7 are rotated, since the ears 2! are longitudinally movable but are constrained to rotate with the central assembly.

The pipe 6 is rigidly attached through its assembly to a central gear 23 which serves to rotate pinion gears 24, 25 and 26 as illustrated in Figure 11. These pinion gears in turn serve to rotate screw conveyers 27, 28, and 29, which latter are encased within tubular members 36, 3|, and 32, respectively. As the earth reaming cutters are arcuately moved, the cuttings are continuously deposited within the container, illustrated in Figure 2 by means 01' the screw conveyers 27, 28 and 29. The container 8 is continuously moved in a downward direction as the cutting units are arcuately moved since the container 8 is constrained to follow the downward movement by reason of the attachment shown in Figure 2. Manifestly the screw conveyers 21, 28 and 29 may be replaced by bucket conveyers or other suitable means for elevating the earth cuttings. One of the arms 20a is elongated to receive a pin 33 which is arranged to be conformably received between ears 34.

Figure 10 illustrates the assembly which serves to centrally position the container 8 relative to the bore hole as well as to the screw conveyer system hereinabove described. This positioning assembly is comprised primarily of a ring 35 to which arms 35, 37, and 38 are rigidly attached, and are formed as shown to receive the tubular members 30, 3|, and 32, respectively, thereby insuring central alignment at all times.

.Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the means by which the underreaming cutters may be locked to or unlocked from the rotatable underrea-ming assembly from the surface of the earth. Figure 5 illustrates in elevation the assembly in locked and operative position. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 and showing the assembly in a position such that the cutting elements are in released position.

After the underreaming operation has been completed, and withdrawal of the tool from the bore hole is required an elongated member 39, formed at its lower extremity as shown in Figure 8, is inserted within the pipe assembly 6, which member serves to contact and move downwardly a plurality of pins 40. The collar 20 is provided with an annular groove 4! within which the pins 40 are positioned. Thus it will be seen that the collar 20 which, hereinabove described, carries the ears 2!, is free to rotate about the pins 40. The pins ii! are affixed to a plate 52 which is positioned above a plate 33, a spring M being interposed therebetween. Longitudinally arranged pins are fixedly arranged to the plate 42 and slidably mounted within the collar 2! It is to be noted that the elongated member 39 is screw threaded intermediate the ends thereof, which threads in cooperation with threads in the collar 20 serve to raise or lower said collar. As has been stated the arms 22 are pivotallyconnected to ears 2| of the collar 28 at one end and at the other end to the arms it. Thus, rotation of the member 39 will impart a vertical movement to the collar 26 whereby as the collar moves downwardly the arms i! will be forced toward the center of the device to permit the insertion or Withdrawal of the device in the bore hole, while upward movement of the collar will tend to expand the arms I] and their accompanying earth cutting means to perform the underreaming operation. Thus when pressure is exerted upon the member 39 the pins Ml are depressed thereby lowering the plate '62 against the action of the spring 44 and causing pins 45 to be disengaged from their respectiverecesses. Hence ring 28 and its attendant parts including the cutting elements are freed from rotation with other elements of the structure. The above described operation is accomplished prior to withdrawal of the tool from the bore hole.

In operation the member 39 is rotated to force the collar 20 downwardly to retract the members I l. The device is then lowered into the bore hole to be underreamed and rotation of the member 39 reversed to expand the members i l. The pins 3 are then set in the earth after the device has been centered within the bore hole. The member 7 is then rotated to actuate the earth cutting blades l5 as has hereinbefore been explained. 'Upon rotation of the member 6 the conveyers will serve to raise the cuttings upwardly into the bucket 8 to remove the same from'the underreamed portion. Obviously, the collar 29 could not be raised to the fullest extent until portions of the earth were cut away. Thus, the member 39 would be rotated to expand the blades in accordance with the amount of dirt removed. After the underreamed portion has been completely bored the blades are retracted through the medium of the member 39 and the device withdrawn from the bore hole.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An underreamer for bore holes including a tubular body, pivoted earth. cutting means, means within said body to move said earth cutting means arcuately as said body is rotated, means for receiving the earth cuttings from said blades, means for continuously transferring said earth cuttings to said earth receiving means, and

means for releasing said earth cutting means from rotation relative to said tubular body.

2. Apparatus for underreaming bore holes including a cylindrical body, earth cutting means pivoted to said body, means to move said earth cutting means arcuately'and in a helical path as said body is rotated, screw conveyer means for elevating the earth cuttings for disposal within an earth container and means whereby said earth cutting blades may be released from rotation when said apparatus is withdrawn from the bore hole.

3. Apparatus for underreaming bore holes including a cylindrical body, earth cutting means pivoted to said body, means to move said earth cutting means arcuately and in a helical path as said body is rotated, gear driven conveyer continuously elevating the earth cuttings for disposal within a cylindrical container and means whereby said earth cutting blades may be released from rotation when said apparatus is withdrawn from the bore hole.

4. Apparatus ior underreammg bore holes ineluding a cylindrical body, earth cutting means pivoted to said body, means to move said earth cutting means in a helical path as said body is rotated, gear driven screw conveyer means for elevating the earth container, means whereby said earth cutting blades may be released from rotation when said apparatus is withdrawn from the bore hole, and spring pressed means for releasing rotation of the blades when the apparatus is withdrawn from the bore hole.

5. Apparatus for underreaming bore holes including a cylindrical body, earth cutting means pivoted to said body, means to move said earth cutting means arcuately and in a helical path as said body is rotated, gear driven screw conveyer means for elevating the earth cuttings for disposal within an earth container, means to hold said earth container in central position, and means whereby said earth cutting blades may be manually released from rotation from the attendant parts.

EMIL- H. ZUM-BERGE. 

